Newly remodeled rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes

I have long been what can best be described as a passionate advocate of the spa at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. My first visit to that dimly lit slice of heaven helped me decide to move my family to Central Florida almost four years ago. And yet, I had never set foot – let alone spent the night – in an actual guest room at the luxury hotel until recently.

As you can imagine, I had high hopes when I checked in.

I stepped into the cavernous marble lobby for the first time on a Monday morning. The elegance was understated but everywhere, from the ornate furniture placed every few yards along the walls to the single flower blossom atop every visible table. The decor on the lobby level, which included a lounge area and bar, was beautiful while remaining quietly in the background. I found myself speaking and even stepping more quietly in response.

Despite having arrived well before a respectable check-in time, the woman at the desk confirmed a room was available for me. After handing me my key, she escorted me to the closest elevators while explaining that I’d be staying in one of the newly-renovated rooms.

New furnishings at Ritz-Carlton Orlando

The hotel is about halfway through a renovation that’s scheduled for completion next fall. The project includes a replacement of the furnishings and decor in the guest rooms and a makeover of the hallways on guest floors. One of my favorite things about my guest room was the powder blue chaise lounge that has been added to king guest rooms as part of this overhaul, which I noticed immediately when I entered my room. (I would spend most of my evening in that chair curled up with my Kindle. It’s just as comfortable as it looks!)

In addition to the perfect spot for reading, my room also included a large desk and work area, granite-topped dressers and entertainment stand, flat screen TV, balcony overlooking the lake, spacious bathroom, and a king bed with linens so luxurious I had to rely on Twitter to talk me out of taking them home with me. The theme of refined details that I’d noted in the lobby was repeated in the room.

My only complaint about the room was the towels. In a hotel with bedding that encourages a late checkout, I was surprised to find the soaking tub and marble-tiled shower stall outfitted with white towels that felt over bleached and rough. It’s a minor complaint, but everything about the hotel and the room seems designed to soothe the senses; the sudden scratching on my skin gave me a temporary jolt back to reality. Fortunately, I had only to get dressed and make my way down to The Vineyard Grill to be quickly lulled back into a fantasy land.

The Vineyard Grill is one of nine dining options at the Grande Lakes resort and I was fortunate to enjoy a breakfast there with the property’s PR Director during my stay. In the evening the vast restaurant is a steakhouse, but it serves an impressive buffet for breakfast and Sunday brunch that includes made-to-order omelets and a sinful array of pastries. You’ll also find fresh salmon, local fruit and a variety of classic breakfast staples continually replaced by an attentive staff.

Pool area at Ritz-Carlton in Orlando

No matter where you are in The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, you feel a sense of both peace and refinement. That calm extends beyond the thick walls into the surrounding grounds. The citrus garden provides a beautiful spot for quiet reflection or a romantic wedding ceremony. Lounge chairs and stone statues surround the pool and hot tub, which looks more like an Italian fountain than a jacuzzi. The resort itself, including the attached JW Marriot, covers more than 500 acres and offers access to a golf course, private lake, and the headwaters of the Everglades. When you tour the property, it’s easy to forget that you’re just a short drive from the hustle and bustle of major theme parks and a large city.

I think that’s what The Ritz-Carlton Orlando does best – make you forget. You can forget about the rush and stress of real life, if just for a little while. Sure, you may be visiting to attend one of the many conventions and meetings held in the ballrooms, but deep relaxation is always just a moment away at The Ritz. Head to the spa, have a drink in the bar, or simply enjoy the view from one of the floor to ceiling windows; you’re sure to find exactly the kind of escape you need.

I received a complimentary room for an evening at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando.

Photos courtesy of Ritz-Carlton and Britt Reints

Penthouse at Trump SoHo in New York City

I know the hotel industry is expecting 2011 to be a good year, but I’m still surprised to see how much expansion is taking place in luxury accommodations. Maybe there’s something to this “economic recovery” talk after all.

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50 sq ft room at Jane Hotel in NYC

How can you score a hotel room in Manhattan for less than $100 per night?

Check into one of New York City’s tiniest hotel rooms.

There’s really no such thing as a “spacious” hotel room in Manhattan, but micro-hotels like The Jane Hotel take scaling down to an extreme with rooms measuring as little as 50 square feet. Within those few feet, guests can expect to find a bed, a phone on the wall, and a shelf above the bed to store luggage. Personal hygiene must be taken care of in the communal bathroom down the hall. If you need a little more space and a bathroom of your own, The Jane offers 50 rooms that boast 250 square feet of lodging space for about double the price of the standard mini-room.

Across the island from The Jane’s Far West Village location, The Pod Hotel offers “pod rooms” in East Midtown with about 99 square feet of space for as little as $85 a night, a rate that includes free WiFi. You can get your own bathroom for just $10 more per night. While The Jane’s rooms tend to be decorated in dark paneling that could make the claustrophobic traveler feel like they were confined in the hull of a ship, The Pod’s decor is bright and modern, a better match for the “broke but hip” crowd.

The idea of micro-hotels might seem crazy, but it’s actually spreading. On April 15, the new Yotel Time Square will open in the famed tourist district and become the chain’s first micro-hotel in the United States. The Yotel rooms will be about 170 square feet and cost guests just over $200 per night. Yotel has enjoyed success with the pod-like rooms in its properties in Europe, including a location in London Heathrow’s Terminal 4.

Would you consider staying in a room with less than 100 square feet of space if it only cost you $85 per night to stay in Midtown Manhattan? I’ve certainly payed a lot more money for not much more usable space, and the size of my hotel room is rarely a major concern when I’m visiting The City That Never Sleeps.

Photos provided by NJFPR

Starwood, the parent company of W Hotels, gets high marks from travel agents

Vacation Agent, a trade magazine for travel agencies, recently released the results of a reader survey that asked travel agents to share their favorites in everything from rental cars to hotels. The survey was sent to the more 100,000 travel agents, including 18,000 home-based agents. The agents were asked to write in their picks as opposed to choosing from a list of suggested brands.

The end result is a list of hotel chains across the world that, at the very least, have made a positive impression on a lot of travel agents. If you’re trying to decide which rewards program to sign up for and rack up points with, this list might provide a good starting place.

Now, the envelope please….

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